Microsoft's Surface Laptop 8 and Surface Pro 12 that featured Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 chips and were originally aimed at business accounts, are now available to general consumers. Microsoft has replaced the Intel Core Ultra 3 chips in the older Surface versions and that has kicked up the prices a bit, but the Snapdragon X2-laden versions also introduce new color options, improved displays, and upgraded hardware.

Most enterprise campus and branch networks are unprepared for the surge in AI traffic, with 73% of groups expecting to reach capacity limits within two years, says a Cisco Systems report based on a Foundry survey. AI-driven traffic has increased by 34% in the past year and is expected to nearly double in the next 12 months, with security a top concern.

Windows and Linux users must update Secure Boot cryptographic keys by June 24 to protect against UEFI malware. Secure Boot, a Microsoft security feature, verifies the integrity of firmware during startup, preventing malware from loading before the operating system. The update replaces 2011 certificates with 2023 ones in response to the LogoFail vulnerability.

Microsoft is investigating a problem that prevents third-party applications from launching Office applications or opening documents after the June 2026 Windows update. The issue affects Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access when these apps are launched via third-party apps that use OLE automation. Microsoft has suggested opening Office apps directly as a workaround and is working on a fix.

US cybersecurity experts are urging the White House to reverse a ban on Anthropic's Fable AI model, implemented after concerns about its potential for malicious use. The experts argue the ban hinders defenders while criminals have access to similar tools. "It's a dangerous path to set out on," says Jack Cable, CEO of Corridor. "Defenders at organizations of all sizes need reliability, autonomy, choice, and control."

The role of CIOs is rapidly evolving as agentic AI adoption accelerates, and CIOs are under increasing pressure to drive innovation and demonstrate value. Info-Tech Research Group CEO Tom Zehren highlighted the challenges CIOs face, including a high rate of transitions due to impatience with AI progress. Security remains a significant concern, with incidents like the State of Nevada's ransomware attack underscoring the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.

A survey by ISSA and Omdia reveals that 83% of organizations are using or planning to use AI for cybersecurity, but 68% of professionals say the job has become more challenging and 57% have considered leaving the field. The report highlights a leadership gap as a significant issue, with a decline in full-time chief information security officers and increasing reliance on virtual CISOs.

Employers in the Dallas metropolitan area listed nearly 11,000 open positions for technology occupations in May. That was the third highest total nationally and a 3% increase from April, according to the CompTIA Tech Jobs Report. Dallas Innovates, which reports on the North Texas business scene, notes that the DFW area ranks fifth among metros for dedicated AI hiring and is projected to add the nation's second-most tech jobs in 2026.

CompTIA AutoOps+ is a vendor-neutral certification that validates hands-on automation skills for IT professionals in infrastructure roles. It targets IT operations professionals ready to move beyond manual processes and develop capabilities in scripting, infrastructure as code, CI/CD pipelines and secure delivery across cloud, hybrid and on-premises environments. As a vendor-neutral certification, CompTIA AutoOps+ equips professionals with skills they can apply across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and on-premises environments -- without being tied to a single platform.